We have had a wonderful first three weeks of school! The children are all happy and settling into our routines. We even started centers last week! Center time is when they get to choose what they want to do and spend as long as they want there. They get to choose between, library, listening centers, legos, house, play-doh, drawing, puzzles, writing, math manipulatives, painting, etc. They look forward to it each day. We have made up our class rules which I will send home this week for you to go over and sign and return to school. We have had a few students go to the POWER MAT (time out) when they are not following our rules, and they seem to understand that they would rather settle down than miss something fun we are doing.
We have begun to have Mom helpers come in and start helping us and they are doing a wonderful job, helping me get some much needed projects finished. This week I will have them start working with students.
I have noticed that this year we seem to have a lot more children crying at school. I know that tired children will usually cry when they are frustrated or disappointed. I would suggest that your child get between 10-12 hours of sleep a night. (KIDS HEALTH) I know this sounds like a lot but when we think how long their day is and how much they are learning each day, their little body and brains need time to rest and regenerate. From personal experience I know that it was difficult to put my younger children to sleep early when their older siblings were still up and making noise. We had to have quiet time so the younger children could go to sleep and get the rest that their body needed. I think if your child is tired and cranky after school that they need to go to bed earlier. I hope this will help with the tears and upset children.
On the whole things are going great in our two classes. We will be sending home readers shortly after I have had a few days to listen to children read who read and retest on letters and sounds for those I think have them all learned. If your child is still learning their sounds that is okay we have all year to move into the reading books. Remember we want to meet the needs of your child and have them progress from where they are. All the children are doing great right where they are. I will let you know if I have concerns about something I observe in class.
Dear Parents,
We have had a wonderful first three weeks of school! The children are all happy and settling into our routines. We even started centers last week! Center time is when they get to choose what they want to do and spend as long as they want there. They get to choose between, library, listening centers, legos, house, play-doh, drawing, puzzles, writing, math manipulatives, painting, etc. They look forward to it each day. We have made up our class rules which I will send home this week for you to go over and sign and return to school. We have had a few students go to the POWER MAT (time out) when they are not following our rules, and they seem to understand that they would rather settle down than miss something fun we are doing.
We have begun to have Mom helpers come in and start helping us and they are doing a wonderful job, helping me get some much needed projects finished. This week I will have them start working with students.
I have noticed that this year we seem to have a lot more children crying at school. I know that tired children will usually cry when they are frustrated or disappointed. I would suggest that your child get between 10-12 hours of sleep a night. (KIDS HEALTH) I know this sounds like a lot but when we think how long their day is and how much they are learning each day, their little body and brains need time to rest and regenerate. From personal experience I know that it was difficult to put my younger children to sleep early when their older siblings were still up and making noise. We had to have quiet time so the younger children could go to sleep and get the rest that their body needed. I think if your child is tired and cranky after school that they need to go to bed earlier. I hope this will help with the tears and upset children.
On the whole things are going great in our two classes. We will be sending home readers shortly after I have had a few days to listen to children read who read and retest on letters and sounds for those I think have them all learned. If your child is still learning their sounds that is okay we have all year to move into the reading books. Remember we want to meet the needs of your child and have them progress from where they are. All the children are doing great right where they are. I will let you know if I have concerns about something I observe in class.